You know, I started this entire process of writing about an unimagined life, not knowing where it would lead or what it would look like. It was more of a way to process the unimagined life I’d been living. And then, like a major wake up call, my world expanded to realize that everyone, lives an unimagined life.
Right?!
I don’t believe that anyone imagines the kinds of changes that will happen to them throughout their lives. The illnesses, deaths, moves, financial setbacks or windfalls, loss of relationships, friendships gained, travels, even the cars owned, furniture bought and houses lived in.
I wasn’t original after all.
This year, since our return to the Midwest after our travels, has been one unimagined event after another. From the confusion over our wheely house repairs, living with friends for a couple of weeks, getting evicted from Extended Stay America (for not disclosing our cat, though we did), the Mayfly incursion in Michigan that locked us inside for 2 weeks, (we had no idea what they were), to the current, unexplained breakdown of our truck.
That situation is currently being rescued by a mobile mechanic who moonlights around his day job. He’s a 3x deployed veteran with 5 kids to keep in shoes. He spent an evening researching our particular issue and came up with a solution that sounded more than plausible. However, his approach was sidelined by the age, make and model of our truck. Back to the research to find out the best way of repairing it. We’re completely truck disabled. We had some use, enough to get groceries and settle in, but for now we’re stationary. And if anyone in Terre Haute IN needs a mobile mechanic, here is his info.
Terre Haute Campground has proven to be an extraordinary blessing. It’s an old KOA that’s been updated a bit, new management and much better prices. Their ability to accommodate us, during a busy Labor Day weekend crush, is the stuff of legends. Hats off to the people who are buying up old KOA’s! So many have been allowed to fall into disrepair and abandonment. They have never been our favorite campground, and having someone love them back into use is exactly what they need.
We moved campsites yesterday so we’d be in a monthly site, and couldn’t be happier with it. Green space, plenty of table space, lots of workers around us who just need a quiet place to park while they work away from home. At some point, I’m sure we’ll offer to feed them.
The other serendipity is that I have a cousin in the area!
Before we left Michigan, when we thought we’d be staying in Indiana for 2 nights on our way to Missouri, I contacted her to see if she wanted to meet up, and catch up.
YES and YES!
Again, hiccups and changes happened. But we ended up spending a good part of Friday together with plans to see each other again. She and her family have lived here for 28 years. For a season she commuted to Chicago where her husband was working for United Airlines. They’d spend part of the week in the suburbs, then go home between his shifts. We’d see each other from time to time while we lived in Fox River Grove. Always with the intention of seeing each other even more, but usually life intervened.
I spent a lot of my teen years at her home. Sleepovers, church, times at our house and we even went to the same school for 2 years. Our parents were close, our mothers were related. She insists I introduced her to her husband of 47 years, I can’t remember it. Her memory is far better than mine when it comes to the past. It’s almost like my childhood is revived by her as we talk. We’re looking forward to more time together.
(She was also the first person to say something completely honest about our plans to land in Detroit)
“Must be for ministry, because you don’t get older and say ‘let’s move to Detroit’”. (I loved it)
New friends from Detroit who are natural born Hoosiers, recommended we visit Nashville IN. My cousin had already tagged us for that trip. It’s an artists area, with wonderful galleries, shops and places to see and visit. Bruce is also in need of a follow up with his psychiatrist who can only treat him from Illinois and we’re less than 10 miles from the border.
As I was canceling our travel plans, I also checked in with our Florida reservation. Turns out there’s another hiccup there. So we may be looking for a different place to stay in FL when all is said and done.
Nimble is my word for the year!
Holding life in tension is a must when it comes to this kind of living. But in a way, I think it’s a must for everyone. That old adage, ‘Lord willing’ finds new applications just about every day. And I’ve learned that it’s a richer life when you don’t plan it too far in advance. Every day brings a new and interesting event that adds opportunities for unexpected adventure. Bob Mumford once said,
“Following Jesus will fulfill all your adventure needs in life”
He wasn’t wrong.